make an IMPACT
By becoming involved with Metro Volunteer Lawyers, you can assist
those in need while helping shape your profession’s future.
In many cases, lawyers can identify and resolve legal issues without going to court or can resolve court cases more efficiently and fairly than persons representing themselves. The provision of legal services helps stabilize families, saves taxpayers money, reduces the number of cases clogging the courts, and helps people move toward self-sufficiency and full participation in society.
Referral Program: MVL is always in need of volunteer attorneys to take pro bono or low fee cases. To sign up to take a case or as a mentor, just complete this online form.
Taking a Case:
Once you sign-up to take on a case pro bono or low-fee, we will try to provide you with a case that fits your criteria (case type, county preference, etc.). Once we identify an appropriate case for you, we will send you the client’s intake documentation. The client will also receive a letter with your contact information, with a recommendation that he or she contact you. We inform the client that it is not guaranteed that you will take the case, as a conflict of interest, for example, could occur. The decision whether you can and will take the case remains with you.
If you cannot represent a prospective client, we ask that you let us know as soon as possible so we can try to find another attorney for the client, as well as hopefully provide you with a new case. If you are able to take the case, we recommend having the client sign a Letter of Engagement (click HERE for a sample), describing, in part, the scope of representation and the expectations of the parties.
After your representation comes to an end, it is important that you return a completed Case Summary Form to MVL at your earliest convenience.
Family Law Court Program: MVL is in need of volunteer attorneys, law students, and paralegals for our Family Law Court Program. No experience in family law is necessary as MVL will guide you through the process.
Post Decree Clinic: MVL is in need of family law attorneys for our Post Decree Clinics. This is an opportunity to meet with clients one-on-one to help clients represent themselves in the court.
Legal Clinic at the Denver Indian Center: MVL is in need of volunteer attorneys, paralegals, and law students for the Legal Clinic at the Denver Indian Center.
Power of Attorney Clinic: MVL is in need of volunteer attorneys to assist with advanced planning documents. No experience in estate planning is necessary to volunteer as MVL will guide you through the process.
Contact Information for Attorneys and Volunteers:
METRO VOLUNTEER LAWYERS
1905 Sherman St, Suite 400
Denver, CO 80203
Tel: 303-830-8210
Fax: 303-837-0019
Email: mvl@denbar.org
Reasons to Volunteer with MVL:
- Helping MVL clients is a rewarding way to serve the needs of the less fortunate in your community, helping work towards our constitutional mandate of providing equal justice under the law.
- Advancing the reputation of the legal profession.
- Obtaining practical legal experience.
- Fulfilling your professional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay. A lawyer should aspire to render at least fifty hours of pro bono public legal services per year. Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 6.1.
- You can receive CLE credits for pro bono work. Under C.R.C.P. 260.8, Colorado attorneys providing uncompensated pro bono legal representation may apply for 1 general CLE credit for every 5 billable-equivalent hours of representation, up to a maximum of 9 credits in each 3 year compliance period. Download the application form HERE.
- MVL provides attorneys with malpractice insurance for the cases they take through our organization.
Retired Attorneys and Attorneys Licensed Out-of-State:
You can still volunteer! Retired attorneys and attorneys with out-of state licenses can apply for a provisional license to work on pro bono cases in Colorado. Read the applicable rule HERE, and find the application form HERE.
Forms and Resources for Volunteer Attorneys
If you are looking for a mentor but are not able to take a bro bono case through MVL at this time, you should consider the Colorado Attorney Mentoring Program or contacting your local bar association.
Instructions to Request Waiver of Filing Fees
Application for CLE credit for Pro Bono Representation
See the Colorado State Judicial Branch website for downloadable forms and instructions
Interested in getting support from law students for your pro bono work for MVL? Want to mentor law students? Believe in exposing students to the wonderful world of pro bono? Denver Law invites you to participate in its Pro Bono Research Project! Through the project, lawyers get the legal support they need while helping students fulfill their pro bono public service requirements. Visit the website or contact Alexi Freeman at afreeman@law.du.edu or 303-871-6788 for more information.
Colorado Bar Association Pro Bono Opportunities and Rules (includes a valuable pro bono guidebook for attorneys)
Review applicable sections of the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure through Casemaker for members of the CBA, or for anyone free through Lexis-Nexis. For example, Rules 10 and 11 provide important information regarding the form, content, and formatting of pleadings, and Rule 121 provides important practice standards.
Sign up to be a part of the Colorado Supreme Court’s Pro Bono Recognition Program for those who commit to and/or achieve their goal of providing at least 50 hours of pro bono service each year.
Stay up-to-date on Denver Bar Association news and events, and read The Docket
Stay up-to-date on Colorado Bar Association news and events, and read The Colorado Lawyer
CBA/CLE Legal Connection (connecting you to the latest in Colorado law)
The Colorado Access to Justice Commission
SelfHelpSupport.org (supporting courts, community and legal aid self help practitioners)
The Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (providing others, in part, with the knowledge to advance a more accessible legal system)
Colorado Department of Local Affairs Housing Guide
A Practical Guide to the Indian Child Welfare Act
National Organization for Women Foundation (links to family law and domestic violence benchbooks)
Juvenile Law Benchbook
Richard Zorza’s Access to Justice Blog
“There can be no equal justice where the kind of trial a man gets depends on the amount of money he has.” –Justice Hugo Black